Sen. Cassidy knocked out of Louisiana Republican primary as Trump-backed Letlow, Fleming make runoff
Source: AP
Updated 12:52 AM EDT, May 17, 2026
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Sen. Bill Cassidy was decisively defeated in Saturdays Republican primary in Louisiana, unable to convince voters that he deserved another term five years after voting to convict President Donald Trump during an impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
He finished behind U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, who capitalized on the power of Trumps endorsement as the president continues purging his party of people he views as disloyal, and John Fleming, the state treasurer. Letlow and Fleming will compete in a runoff on June 27.
The result was the latest example of Trumps unrivaled power over the Republican Party as he approaches the twilight of his second term with persistent inflation, sagging approval ratings and dissatisfaction over the war with Iran. Unlike some other senators who declined to run again after crossing Trump, Cassidy pushed hard for reelection and spent nearly double the combined amount of his opponents.
But none of that was enough for Cassidy to qualify for a runoff, let alone win a third term. Our country is not about one individual, he told supporters after his loss. It is about the welfare of all Americans, and it is about the Constitution.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-republican-senate-primary-2026-cassidy-letlow-1c8b927fd981c40cb4a538b0f89671dc
not fooled
(6,760 posts)I realize it's a tired, rhetorical question by now...but...after every disastrous consequence of krasnov's second installation, especially the illegal war and looting the treasury to give money to billionaires, his cult members STILL follow like lemmings???
BumRushDaShow
(172,159 posts)It's hard when you still have to deal with an entrenched 25% of the population who are mindless zombies.
Buddyzbuddy
(2,886 posts)BumRushDaShow
(172,159 posts)and he was awful.
It's a Louisiana thing and BOTH Senators have been horrid along with their slimy SOH.
(ETA - Kennedy is up in 2028)
Buddyzbuddy
(2,886 posts)I thought maybe something happened with him that I missed. Fingers are crossed for '28.
BumRushDaShow
(172,159 posts)crawled out of their Louisiana swamps and threw Cassidy under the bus months ago.
ananda
(35,491 posts)Trump never forgave him.
BumRushDaShow
(172,159 posts)But I only brought Kennedy up because he is the other LA Senator and is one who needs to go too (even more so)!
ananda
(35,491 posts)I guess I got them confused.
BumRushDaShow
(172,159 posts)(but both are from Louisiana)
Hassin Bin Sober
(27,495 posts)ananda
(35,491 posts)Scruffy1
(3,544 posts)About 3,000,000 total voted in the 2024 presidential elections. To me this shows how vulnerable the Republican party really is. In 2024 presidential race only 60% of eligible voters in Louisiana voted. If the Louisiana Democratic Party could motivate some of the 40% that don't vote this seat could be in play. But they will probably move " to the middle " and get an ass kicking as usual.
jgmiller
(705 posts)Voter apathy is real, people love to complain but then when they have to do something so simple as voting they don't do it. It used to be that people thought it was their duty to vote now they think it's a chore but they will happily waste hours scrolling on their phones or watching reality TV every day.
GreenWave
(12,795 posts)About 42,000 more, but if the Orange Menace has alienated the Cassidy voters where half do not vote R in Nov. the good guys could win.
BradBo
(1,058 posts)BattleRow
(2,706 posts)bluedigger
(17,449 posts)ToxMarz
(3,059 posts)He would actually vote and act to fuck Trump any way he could at every possible moment. Go for it Senator! You don't have much time and you will be on the right side of history.
OGBuzz
(580 posts)Don't let the door hit you on the way out Billy.
question everything
(52,379 posts)Polybius
(22,112 posts)The last time it happened was in 2012 when Richard Lugar of Indiana lost his primary. Technically, it happened in 2017 when Luther Strange lost to Roy Moore, but Strange was never elected Senator, he was appointed.
I predict that it will also happen on May 26th, when Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton battle it out.
paleotn
(22,696 posts)Or TX stays true to form. They've done that before. What is it with hot places and fucked up politics? Merely a correlation or something more?
Geechie
(1,047 posts)BumRushDaShow
(172,159 posts)when Mike Lee took out Bob Bennett in UT.
Another that year was here in PA after Arlen Specter switched from (R) to (D) in 2009 but lost his 2010 primary as a (D) to Joe Sestak in 2010 (who lost the general to Pat Toomey (R)).
mobeau69
(12,460 posts)by the Tea party. He was never going to be magat material and probably would have voted to impeach. Sort of a Liz Cheney type. You know, the type that wasnt big on traitors.
PSPS
(15,375 posts)The question is can a MAGA loon win a statewide general election. Everyone can vote in that, not just the MAGA base.
paleotn
(22,696 posts)Louisiana is a horror in so many ways. The coast is sinking while sea level rises. New Orleans is untenable. It will be swallowed by the Gulf perhaps in the twilight of my years. I may not live to see it but it will go under the waves. That's a mathematical certainty. It's gone. Their economy is a shambles. Opportunity is non existent. Crime and violence are rampant. If anywhere in America is a shithole, Louisiana is arguably the top of the list. A failed state propped up by Blue state prosperity. Turn off DC largess and they're a banana republic / anarchy state. Why shouldn't their politics be just as horrible?
mountain grammy
(29,200 posts)paleotn
(22,696 posts)mountain grammy
(29,200 posts)Not a bad meal in NO and pretty much anywhere in LA. We hit a Casino seafood buffet in Shreveport that was amazing 🤩.
dsharp88
(528 posts)Birthplace of jazz, funk, and, arguably, others
mgardener
(2,401 posts)Trump lickspittle, Elise Stefanik did to Trump, but he yanked her ambassadorship to the UN and endorsed someone else for the Gov race.
She is not running for re election.
MTG fared better then most Republicans.
flvegan
(66,516 posts)dalton99a
(95,224 posts)dem4decades
(14,372 posts)Timewas
(2,776 posts)there must be something in the water down there that keeps them stupid..........
azureblue
(2,748 posts)the Dem primary turn out was 347,000 Dem votes vs 401,000 GOP votes. If La can't get the Dem turnout above 500,000 we will lose Louisiana. Because you know the GOP will cheat..
Roy Rolling
(7,708 posts)These Bozo senators (with apologies to clowns) are elected in carefully crafted Republican districts.
Without racist Trump voters they cant win. A wave of targeted minorities voters can end this.
Help us out, send some freedom riders. We cant do it alone. Thanks for your attention to this matter. RR
Red Beans and Ricely yours,
Non-racist Louisiana.